Broncos vs Panthers live score updates: Third quarter woes (again) doom Carolina

Four games remain for the Carolina Panthers this season, and winning any of them will be a challenge.

Perhaps the most attainable victory for the Panthers (4-8) presents itself Sunday when they host the Denver Broncos (4-8), who will be without left tackle Garett Bolles, one of the most improved offensive linemen in the league.

While a loss for either team would only help where they pick in next year’s NFL draft, do not expect this Panthers team, led by coach Matt Rhule, to consider tanking. With a roster that’s short on experience, Carolina needs to maximize every snap — especially on defense.

You can check out our full scouting report for the game here.

The Observer has five journalists — including beat reporters Alaina Getzenberg and Jonathan Alexander and columnist Scott Fowler — at Bank of America Stadium for Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff (CBS). We’ll post live updates, scoring highlights and injury news here throughout the game.

All season long, the Carolina Panthers have had trouble staying in games after halftime.

Those third quarter woes showed up again in Sunday’s 32-27 loss to the Denver Broncos. And it turns out, the Broncos really needed the help, because Carolina got really hot late in the game.

But first, let’s talk about that third quarter.

After holding Denver QB Drew Lock to 85 yards passing in the first half, Lock was 6-of-7 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the third. Denver scored 10 points in the first half but added two touchdowns in the third quarter.

So while they were down by 6 to start the third quarter, Carolina was down 15 to start the fourth.

The Panthers offense came to life in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t quite close the gap.

After a scramble-for-score by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and a field goal from Joey Slye, Carolina was down 25-20 with momentum.

But Carolina gave up a 49-yard scoring pass from Lock to KJ Hamler on the Broncos next drive.

Against Carolina, Lock was 3-for-3 for 117 yards and two touchdowns on pass attempts of more than 20 yards. He entered the game with the fourth worst QB rating in the league on those type of attempts — with no touchdown passes and four interceptions.

But Carolina kept fighting, scoring in just 28 seconds — driving 75 yards in four plays. Mike Davis got the touchdown to make the score Denver 32, Carolina 27.

Next, Joey Slye executed a perfect squib kick that trapped Denver at its 7. The Broncos ending up punting from their 4 with three minutes to play. Pharaoh Cooper returned the punt to midfield. A holding penalty, however, pushed the Panthers back to its 26 with 2:48 to play.

From there, Carolina couldn’t do much, failing on a fourth and 8 from inside its 30.

It was Carolina’s seventh one-score loss this season.

Lock finished completing 21-of-27 passes for 280 yards and touchdowns. Tailback Melvin Gordon ran 13 times for 68 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt.

Bridgewater was 30-for-40 for 283 yards. Mike Davis ran 11 times for 51 yards and two scores.

Denver DB Kevin Toliver II injured

With three minutes to go, Denver punted the ball. Kevin Toliver appeared to injure a leg on the play. Toliver walked off the field under his own power.

MIKE DAVIS TD: BRONCOS 32, PANTHERS 27

3:26, Third Quarter: After Denver scored what could’ve been a put-away touchdown, Carolina answered in less than a minute with a fast drive in 28 seconds. Mike Davis scored his second touchdown from 10 yards out. The Panthers drive was four plays, 75 yards.

KJ HAMLER TD: BRONCOS 32, PANTHERS 20

3:54, Fourth Quarter: Drew Lock delivered a potential knockout blow to the Panthers, tossing a 49-yard pass to KJ Hamler. It was Lock’s fourth touchdown pass of the game and his second hookup with Hamler, a second round pick from Penn State.

JOEY SLYE FIELD GOAL: BRONCOS 25, PANTHERS 20

5:21 Fourth Quarter: Joey Slye made his second kick of the game, from 26 yards, to bring the Panthers within five. The Panthers had a drive that looked like it might go the distance, but on third and goal at the 7, the Panthers were flagged for delay of game. At the 12, Bridgewater hit Robby Bridgewater for a 5-yard completion, but offensive tackle Russell Okung was flagged for holding. Denver declined.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER TD: BRONCOS 25, PANTHERS 17

13:31, Fourth Quarter: On third down at the Broncos 7, Teddy Bridgewater ran a quarterback draw -- with Panthers speedy receivers spaced out on either side of the field. Bridgewater had an open lane up the middle and scored his fourth rushing TD of the season.

TIM PATRICK TD: BRONCOS 25, PANTHERS 10

Denver pushed its lead to two touchdowns after Drew Lock’s third touchdown pass of the game. Denver has a season-high four pass plays of at least 20 yards. Before Tim Patrick caught a 2-yard score in the third quarter, Denver got the fourth of those.

Patricks’s score came after 29-yard screen pass on second and 14 at the Panthers 31. The Panthers tried to pressure Denver QB Drew Lock and he threw the screen to Troy Fumagalli who ran free near the left sideline.

After the score, a penalty on the PAT gave Denver a chance to go for 2 points at the Panthers 1. Denver took points off the board to do it. Lock’s PAT pass was incomplete, leaving Carolina down two scores.

JOEY SLYE FIELD GOAL: BRONCOS 19, PANTHERS 10

Carolina answered Denver’s third quarter score with a good drive that stalled as it got near the red zone. Joey Slye made a 35-yard field goal. Slye is 25-of-32 this season on field goals.

KJ HAMLER TD: BRONCOS 19, PANTHERS 7

11:04, Third Quarter: With Denver at the Carolina 37, the Panthers tried a blitz. The blitz didn’t get to Denver QB Noah Lock and Panthers defensive back Rasul Douglas didn’t get his hands on Broncos receiver KJ Hamler near the line of scrimmage.

Given a free release, Hamler used his 4.25 40-yard dash speed to sprint past Douglas, who stumbled.

It turned into an easy pitch-and-catch, although Denver kicker Brandon McManus missed his second PAT of the game.

Panthers RB Mike Davis injured

After an early third quarter run, Mike Davis left the game with an apparent injury to his left hand. Davis returned on the Panthers next possession.

HALFTIME SCORE: BRONCOS 13, Panthers 7

Carolina trails 13-7 at halftime, but there were plenty of Panthers fans who took to Twitter upset with a roughing the passer call on Brian Burns that kept the Broncos final drive of the first half alive. And that drive ended with a touchdown.

Watch the play and take our poll below.

In the first half, Denver QB Drew Lock was 12-of-16 for 85 yards. Denver ran for 63 yards. Carolina’s Teddy Bridgewater was 9-of-12 for 62 yards. Carolina ran for 54 yards. Bridgewater was sacked three times.

Yes, it’s been a defensive struggle.

NICK VANNETT TOUCHDOWN, BRONCOS 13, PANTHERS 7

1:33, Second Quarter: Two Carolina penalties helped the Broncos regain the lead.

A roughing the passer penalty on Brian Burns on third and 8 -- when Drew Lock threw an incomplete pass -- gave Denver a first down at the Panthers 48. On the next play, Lock hit Jerry Jeudy on a long pass to the Carolina 16.

Carolina coach Matt Rhule didn’t agree with the call. Carolina fans weren’t happy about it either. Burns tackled Lock but didn’t appear to drive him into the ground.

Later on the same drive, Jermaine Carter made a big hit on a Denver running back on third down and gave the Broncos first and goal at the 2. On the next play, Lock hit Nick Vannett with a short pass.

MIKE DAVIS TOUCHDOWN, PANTHERS 7, BRONCOS 6

6:15, Second Quarter: Mike Davis had a 3-yard run up the middle to give the Panthers a lead. His score came shortly after NFL defensive rookie of the year candidate Jeremy Chinn dove high and sacked Broncos QB Drew Lock, forcing a fumble.

Efe Obada returned the Panthers 13th fumble recovery of the year to the Broncos 3. After Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater threw an incomplete pass, looking for Curtis Samuel, Davis busted up the middle to give Carolina the lead.

Denver’s Duke Dawson, Noah Fant injured

With the Panthers driving in the first quarter down six, Denver’s Duke Dawson, a defensive back, was injured following a first down scramble from Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater. He was carted off the field in pain.

Dawson suffered a knee injury and is out for the game.

▪ Tight end Noah Fant has left the game with an illness. He will not return.

DIONTAE SPENCER TOUCHDOWN: BRONCOS 6, PANTHERS 0

10:18, First Quarter: Denver’s Dionate Spencer made a big special teams play, returning a punt 83 yards for his first NFL touchdown

Uniform combinations for Broncos-Panthers

The Panthers are wearing their home black uniforms today — black jerseys and black pants — with their traditional silver helmets. The Broncos will wear white jerseys with white pants.

Christian McCaffrey has a new injury and won’t play vs. Broncos

Carolina Panthers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey will miss his 10th game of the season Sunday. He was expected to return from a shoulder injury this week until he tweaked his quad Wednesday at practice. He originally aggravated his quad while training to heal from his shoulder injury he sustained on the final drive of the team’s loss to the Chiefs.

Here is the full list of inactive players for Broncos-Panthers.

What channel is the Broncos-Panthers game on and how do I stream it?

Today’s 1 p.m. kickoff between Broncos and Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Minneapolis will be broadcast on CBS. You can stream the game on CBS All-Access if you have a subscription by logging in through your cable or satellite provider. It’s also available on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV with a valid subscription.

If you are unable to view the game, we will provide live updates and video and photo highlights on this page.